Preventing Emergency Department Violence through Design – 2018

Trends and news reports highlight a growing concern about random violence in public venues. Health care settings traditionally have been considered sacred ground for vulnerable ill or injured patients, as well as care providers, who are considered part of the public safety net. However, not all hospital or health-system leaders fully appreciate the dynamic situations that arise when fear, pain, drug use, or mental-health behaviors put patients, staff, and visitors in harm’s way. It is crucial that staff partner with administrators, facility leaders, and safety officers to design emergency departments with evidence-based concepts to minimize or eliminate risks to safety and security. This article provides a comprehensive review of best design practices to help guide clinical user groups in meetings with hospital leaders, architects, and engineers.